I serve as Minister of Music of a large congregation which has plummeted to a severely small congregation. ibWhen I inquire with various individuals why they are not participating in church anymore I keep hearing the comment, "I JUST DON'T GET ANYTHING OUT OF THE MESSAGE." I sincerely believe that these are not complaints but the actual truth. I attend Church Sunday School, Bible Study, Mission (when they have it), etc. and I experience the same feeling that many are expressing. I am having difficulty keeping encouraging the choir members to stay after the choir has ministered. What should I do? Can someone please help me?
I feel you all the way. I left my old church back in September, I'd been there all my life. When I was in high school I wanted to find a church for me because I wasn't getting anything out of the service at all. Our youth ministy was falling apart, and there was nothing there that kept me interested in going, except I was made to go by my mom because I played for the youth choir. Mainly obligations to different ministries kept me at that church, I didn't want to let anyone down, so I kept going and being involved in those ministries even though I wasn't growing. I played for the children's choir when I entered college, and that kept me motivated somewhat.
However when my mom passed away, when the director of the children's choir and the minister of music started to push me out (a let me tell you the children's choir has gone downhill since I left), I had my chance to finally find a church home that was just for me.
I finally found a church home last month, I was visting the church off and on last year on the Sundays I didn't have to play, sing, or usher at my old church. Then in February, I started to attend every Sunday. Why? Because the messages related to me, I could relate to what was being taught to me, and see how it reflected in my life, something I hadn't been able to do before. My pastor at my old church (I love Him and all), just had messages that went over people's heads. He used all these big words (and that was cool, cause I knew what He was saying, but many others didn't because many of them, our congregation was mainly older people in their 60's plus, hadn't finish high school or gone to college), he talked down to us in a way, and went all off subject.
I admit, I fell asleep many a Sundays or just diverted my thoughts elsewhere...how was that helping me to grow? Not only that, but there weren't ministries for the youth to keep them interested in church and the college aged, young adults...so when many of the kids started high school, and college, they went elsewhere to church, because there was nothing there for us (the older people just push the younger people to the side and we wouldn't get a chance to help out around the church or anything). And people there would look down on someone if they were in jail before, had a baby, anything like that.
Now at the church I attend, the services are exciting and makes me excited to come and be there on time, but it doesn't stop there...we can wear what we want to wear...so people really don't dress up, they have bible studies for every age group, and for women, men, and the whole church as well. Support groups from those who lost a loved one, to those whose loved ones are on drugs or alcohol (the church is located downtown, where many of the homeless and what society calls outcasts in that area, and the church caters to them, feeds them, clothe them, give them professional haircare, healthcare...so they want a chuch without walls where everyone can come together and be comfortable, which is why people don't don their fancy suits, they're themselves) . Just last Sunday, the pastor was recogizing those who were in recovery from drugs and alcohol, then He asked if anyone else was recovering...some more hands went up. He then told the whole congregation to raise their hands because we're all recovering from something daily or else we wouldn't need God working on our lives, and that's a reason to praise Him at all times.
I'm going on and on and I do apologize for that, but I continue to pray for my old church, because I see that they can grow and become a mighty vessel of God in that area, but the people there don't want to do anything, they'd rather spend thousands of dollars of the church's money on food to eat for every program; than try to work on ministries within the church to help the congregation grow, and for everyone to grow in the word, especially the little ones,...maybe one day I pray.
Just keep praying and encouraged, remember prayer changes things. And remember God is the overseer of everything, He has a plan for everything, maybe He's working on a plan for your church where one day, bam, the preacher there brings forth a word that everyone can relate to every Sunday, you never know, we're all works in progress...so stay faithful.